Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-20
Cheating the People.

COngrCSSman CoA recent SptPtH III
New York city on the subject Of the in
equality of representation in the IA
tional House Of Representatives occa-
stoned by the unlaif legislation OF Re
publican State legislatures ought to
cause the Republicans OF the North to
resolve never more to speak OF the
"solid South" This unfair legislation
is, in New York and other northern
States, not confined to the gerrymander-
ing of the State FOR the election of con
gressmen, but dcpriyes the Democrats
of a large portion of their fair share OF
representatives, in the two houses of
the General Assembly.
Every reader knows that for years
past New York has elected Democratic
Governors, Lieutenant Governors, and
other State officers. How, then, has it
happened that the Legislature of that
State has been Republican, and by a
large majority? We answer, Because
the Republicans have gerrymandered
the State. In 1884 Mr.. CLEVELAND
carried New York. BY rights, Demo
cratic United States senator, pledged
to sustain his Administration, ought
to have been sent to Washing
ton by the Legislature which was
elected on the same day he was chosen
President of the United States. Was
this done? No. Why not? Because
the Republicans had 80 arranged the
election districts that it was next 10 in
possible for the Democrats TO carry the |
Legislature. Tho same voters who |
elected Mr.. CLEVELAND (by giving him |
the vote Of New York; were compelled !
by an unrighteOus law to elect ID Re |
publican assemblymen and only So |
Democratic a.semblymen. Evidently |
Just about the same number of persons
voted for the Democratic assemblymen |
that voted for CLEVELAND. 1t was
clearly, therefore, the fault of the law
that the Democrats failed to carry tho
Legislature.
And yetthe authorso of this continuing
outrage upon the people of New York
gre among the most blatant of the
bloody-shirt clamorers. They have the
impudcnce TO talk about n solid south
they who have for years kept in power
in New York STATE a minority of the
people, and compelled the majority to
submit TO being represented in Con-
gress by Senators AMI Representatives
unfairly, not to say fraudulently, elected
by that minority.
it is not the people of New York only
wEo aIe thus swindled out OF their
rights, but the people Of the whole
country. The United States Senate
will next winter be Republican body
if Mr.. RmDLEBBRGBR votes with the
Republicans on party questions. But
Mr.. EvARTs and Mr.. HIsCoCK, two New
York United States senators, misrepre-
sent their constituents. Their seats
ought to be filled by Democrats. The
Senate would in that case be Demo
cratic body. Are these the proper per
sons TO talk about q solid South
Connecticut is more unequally dis
tricted than even New York as between
the two parties She also has two Re-
publican United States senators who
owe their seats in that body to Re
publican gerrymander Will those
senators have the face to talk about
solid Soutr Do they not know that
they misrcpresent the people of Con-
necticut?
The New England States have twelve
United States senator's, although the
populationo of the six States is not equal
to that of New York, which has only
two United States senators. When
States were sovereigns, and had some
rights which the Federal Government
was considered bound to respect, there
was a good reason why each State,
large or small, should be allowed two
United States senator's. But what
reason can be offered for it now ? Why |
should the vote OF Texas in the United |
States Senate be neutralized by the
vote Of Rhode Island-the former
having now about seven times as much |
population as the latter?
1be people OF the United States
should constantly be reminded OF the
facts referred to in this article. When
ever BIAIsE or SHERMAN organ begins
to talk about the solid South remind |
the organ Of peterborough New Eng
land Of peterborough Nevada and
OF other Republican rotten boroughs
Race Prejudice.